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St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Workers who have not joined the St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union or have not formed their own union should not complain about how they are treated by employers.

So says the General Secretary of the St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union, Batumba Tak.

“Did you ask them if they joined the union? Because they have to join, that’s the first step, they have to join the union. And if they are not joining, they can’t complain or they form one of their own.”

This is in response to the concerns of callers on WINN FM’s Voices Programme on Monday (March 3), who raised the issue of the protection of the poor working-class in private sector companies.

Mr. Tak says that workers who join the labour union are given contracts with collective agreements, which have stipulations that protect their rights.

“Well we have contracts at places, and in the collective agreement all is spelt out, including knowing if you will get or raise or not get a raise, at particular times and all kind of benefits there, and we have substitutes at those places, if any issues come up, they will look after them.”

Mr. Tak added that he has written to the Labour Commissioner of the Department of Labour several times about concerns of the union but has received no answer.

“Well since the present government came in, I have written to the Labour Commissioner on several occasions, and they have not answered back at all.”

General Secretary of the St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union Batumba Tak speaking to WINN FM on Tuesday